An integrated control system for a machine such as an engine. The machine is composed of plurality of components such as a throttle valve and a fuel injector. The control system has a plurality of control modules for controlling the respective components and finally controlling the machine through the control of the components. Each control module is associated with at least one parameter for controlling each component. The parameter is evolved under genetic algorithm so as to be adapted to at least one of a predetermined characteristic that is a target of the machine, a characteristic of a user who uses the machine, a using condition and an environmental condition of the machine.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A control system for controlling performance of a machine used by a user, which machine is operable by causative signals, the performance of which machine is indicatable by indicative signals, said control system comprising: control modules programmed to output the causative signals when receiving pre-selected signals, wherein an input-output relationship of each control module is regulated by at least one control parameter; processing units programmed to output at least one control parameter to the respective control modules when receiving indicative signals from the machine, wherein the input-output relationship of each processing unit is regulated by coefficients; selection-signal generation units programmed to output selection signals when receiving interaction signals from the user and/or pre-set target values; and genetic algorithm units programmed to select fitted coefficients based on the selection signals when using as genes the coefficients from the respective processing units, wherein the selected fitted coefficients replace the coefficients used in the respective processing units to update the input-output relationships of the respective processing units, thereby updating the input-output relationships of the respective control modules.
2. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control modules are grouped into interaction control modules and autonomous control modules, said interaction control modules receiving outputs from the respective processing units which use coefficients selected by the respective genetic algorithm units based on the selection signals derived from the interaction signals from the user, said autonomous control modules receiving outputs from the respective processing units which use coefficients selected by the respective genetic algorithm units based on the selection signals derived from the pre-set target values.
3. The controls system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing units include neural networks programmed to output the control parameters when receiving the indicative signals, the input-output relationships of which neural networks are regulated by coupling coefficients, said coupling coefficients being used as genes at the genetic algorithm units.
4. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control modules constitute an evolution layer, and the control system further comprises a base layer downstream of the evolution layer and upstream of the machine, said base layer calculating and adding base values of the causative signals to the outputs from the control modules of the evolution layer, based on pre-selected signals.
5. The control system according to claim 4 , further comprising a learning layer between the evolution layer and the base layer, said learning layer having a learning function which copies the input-output relationship of each control module and outputs causative signals to the base layer.
6. A control system for controlling performance of a machine used by a user, which machine is operable by causative signals outputted from control modules when the control modules receive pre-selected signals, the performance of which machine is indicatable by indicative signals, wherein an input-output relationship of each control module is regulated by at least one control parameter, said control system comprising: processing units programmed to output at least one control parameter to the respective control modules when receiving indicative signals from the machine, wherein the input-output relationship of each processing unit is regulated by coefficients; selection-signal generation units programmed to output selection signals when receiving interaction signals from the user and/or pre-set target values; and genetic algorithm units programmed to select fitted coefficients based on the selection signals when using as genes the coefficients from the respective processing units, wherein the selected fitted coefficients replace the coefficients used in the respective processing units to update the input-output relationships of the respective processing units, thereby updating the input-output relationships of the respective control modules.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 11, 1999
May 28, 2002
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